America: Most Important Events from 1877-present

Invention of the Light Bulb

Thomas Edison, after numerous tests, made the light bulb. He beat out many other inventors to become the first person to produce a fuctioning light bulb. This was huge not only forthe U.S., but for theentire world as people would not have to use candles anymore.

Jul 4, 1902

American Occupation of the Phillipines

After the Spanish-American War ended, the Phillipines fought the U.S. for their own independence. After the U.S. won the War, they occupied The Phillipines. This was highly controversial as the U.S. was doing something very "unamerican".

Dec 1, 1913

Henry Ford and the Asembly Line

When Ford invented the assembly line, mass production wentthrough the roof. Soon every American, poor and rich, were able to have an automobile. This was a huge boost forthe economy as thousands of job openings were made.

Jan 12, 1915

Nineteenth Amendment

The ratification of the 19th Amendment was a substantial moment. It let women vote which was a big part of getting reights for women. It also carved a path for African-Americans to gain their own rights.

Jun 28, 1919

Treaty of Versailles (1919)

The Treaty of Versailles was a treaty signed by the Allied and Central Powers. It ended WWI and started an era in the U.S. known as the Roaring Twenties. The U.S. was not fighting any wars, and they could sit back and enjoy prosperity for the next decade.

Oct 29, 1929

Black Tuesday

The Stock Market Crash ended the Roaring Twenties and effectively started the Great Depression. The age of prosperity was now over with the U.S. focusing on how to regain balance. This event would affect the next decade as well as American history as we know it.

Sep 18, 1931

Invasion of Manchuria by Japan

Japan started their conquest of world domination in 1931 by invading the Chinese province of Manchuria. This caused tensions between Japan and many countries, inlcuding the U.S. This was looked at as a reason for interventionism by a lot of Americans while some still thought that the U.S. should stay out of foreign affairs.

Mar 4, 1933

Roosevelt get elected

In the heat of the Great Depression, Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected president. The American people thought that FDR could end the Great Depression with his idea of government expansion. This would change how much power the president would be allowed to have as well as how much power the government could have.

Apr 17, 1933

The start of the CCC

The Civilian Conservation Corps was a New Deal agency which would be substantial in getting the U.S. out of the Depression. The Corporation would go on to supply millions of young men with needed jobs. The agency was a big help in digging the U.S. out of trouble.

Nov 11, 1933

The Dust Bowl

The Dust Bowl would have a huge effect on the American economy as well as the world economy. Farmers were unable to grow crops or farmanything and as a result a food shortage occured. Thousands of people moved out of the area to magrate towards states like California and Arizona.

Dec 7, 1941

"A date which will live in infamy"

The U.S. naval base Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941 by 353 Japanese bombers and fighter planes. This promted the U.S. to join World War II in both the European Theatre and the Pacific Theatre. Thought of isolationism was put to bed as it now was impossible for the U.S. not to join the War.

Aug 6, 1945

"Prompt and utter destruction"

The atomic bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima ended the Second World War. This was a huge event in human history as it was the first (and also the only) time atomic bombing had been used in warfare. This is one of America's highly controversial events while some see as terrible but needed and others see it as terrible and unneccesary.

Jan 1, 1950

The birth of Suburbia

After World War II, the landscape of America had changed. Instead of either cities or rural areas being the most populous areas, a new idea was birthed, Suburbia. This changed how American families were as the new family was seen as a suburban family with a housewife and the husband working in the city.

Aug 17, 1961

Cutting off Democracy

The Berlin Wall was erected in 1961. The Soviets had cut off all of East Berlin from West Berlin making it a half democratic, half communist city. This event would anger the U.S. and many Allies as they saw it as almost a proclomation of war.

Oct 14, 1962

Caribbean Crisis

The Cuban missile crisis was one of the defining moments in Cold War history. If the United States was to invade Cuba, they could potentially start World War III, but if they did not do anything then the communists would gain more confidence. This would change how domestic policy would go in the ensuing years of the War.

Jul 16, 1969

Apollo 11

Apollo 11 brought Americans together like never before. Americans grew an appreciation for the outside world. Americans understood science more than ever now.

Jun 23, 1972

Titile IX

Title IX issued "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.". This meant that rights of scholarships and jobs were guarenteed by the government. This changed how universities and the American people saw collegee life and daily things.

Feb 22, 1980

Miracle on Ice

The Miracle on Ice was the victory of the U.S. Hockey team over the much favored Soviet Hockey team at the 1980 Winter Olympics. The Soviets were made up of professionals from all over Eastern Europe where as the U.S. team was made up of amateurs from within the U.S. This event sent shockwaves around the country and gave the American people a blast of pride.

Jan 1, 1992

Text Messaging and Cell phones

Text messaging and cell phones changed the last 20 years of America. Americans now can call an ambulance right on the scene of an accident or text police in a hostage situation. The celluar phone has made America safer.

Apr 20, 1999

Columbine High School Massacre

Columbine is one of America's most tragic and heartwrenching events. Columbine would end up changing security schools and also how to prevent it. Columbine also sparked a huge gun control debate and also started the "bullying revolution".

Sep 11, 2001

8 A.M. on a Tuesday morning

September 11 would change America forever. It would not only change how we did airport security, but it also changed the American attitude to revengeful against the Middle East. It also started the world's largest manhunt ever.